Mechanical switching and ratchet arrangement for mutually-exclusive functions

ABSTRACT

A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type for carrying out mutually exclusive functions, for example for selective needle bed shogging on flat knitting machines. A plurality of selector jacks are longitudinally slidable on a jack guide and each has associated with it a switch jack. A ball blocking device permits any one, but only one of the selector jacks to be moved longitudinally at any given time. When a selector jack is moved, it carries with it its switch jack which switch jack remains in the moved position even though its selector jack then moves back to its original position. A locking pawl is provided for holding the switch jacks in the original or the moved positions thereof.

United States Patent [19'] Kemmler Nov. 27, 1973 [75] Inventor: WilhelmKemmler, Reutlingen,

Germany [73] Assignee: H. Stoll and Company, Reutlingen,

Stollweg, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 1, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 277,119

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 5, 1971 Germany P 21 39132.2

[52]. US. Cl. 66/69 [51] Int. Cl. D04b 7/00, D04b 7/20 [58] Field ofSearch 66/69 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,012,5048/1935 Geyer 66/69 2,093,858 9/1937 Zimic 66/69 2,110,915 3/1938 Nogler66/69 2,653,460 9/1953 Zimic et al.... 66/63 2,284,167 5/1942 Ralston66/69 Primary Examiner-Rona1d Feldbaum AttorneyRoberts B. Larson et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type forcarrying out mutually exclusive functions, for example for selectiveneedle bed shogging on flat knitting machines. A plurality of selectorjacks are longitudinally slidable on a jack guide and each hasassociated with it a switch jack. A ball blocking device permits anyone, but only one of the selector jacks to be moved longitudinally atany given time. When a selector jack is moved, it carries with it itsswitch jack which switch jack remains in the moved position even thoughits selector jack then moves back to its original position. A lockingpawl is provided for holding the switch jacks in the original or themoved positions thereof.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures "MENTEUNCY 2 '7 EH75 sum n? 2 BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates tofa mechanical switching andratchet device, and in particular ittrelates-to anew and improved:device of the type for carrying out mutually exclusive-functions such'asselective needle bed shogrging on flat knitting machines.

In. automatically operating knitting machines, inpatticular flatknitting machines, the needle bed shogs determining stitch formationand% patterning intmany cases take place through the medium of switchingjacks, which are individually selectedfrom a set of selector jacks by apatterning device, i.e. are brought fromtherest position into theoperativeactivepositiom In such: a machine, the switching jacks-draw.on: switch levers or abutments which determine the longitudi'nali thantwice the thickness of one selector jack. As a result thereof, after anyone of the selector jacks have moved from the rest position to theactive position, an attempt to move any other selector jack will beunsuccessful as that selector jack will be blocked by the balls. Inaccordance with the preferred embodiment, the switch jack associatedwith each selector jack is so arranged relative thereto that when theselector jack moves from its rest position to its active position, itcarries its respective switch jack with it. The switch jack is then heldin this active position while the selector jack is permitted to moveback to its rest position. This provides the advantage that all selectorjacks are attheir rest positions for a random selection of a switch forthenext cycle. In accordance with this preferred arrangement, the switchjacks include front and rear abutments which cooperate with front andrear ratchet tips on a locking pawl which-is urged against all of saidswitchljacks; The ratchet tips and the abutrnents are so extent ofneedlebed shog. Thus, both: the switching. 205 arranged that the lockingpawl is operable to concurjacks andthe selector jacks control. theshoggingonl y indirectly sincevit is thesaidflevers or abutrnents whichactually determine the extent of the shoggingz. Heretofore, switchingmalfunctions could. not:v be: avoided; due

to faulty patterning bands on cards, to particularly strong vibrationsof the machine; or. toforeignibodies orthe'likeentering;thepatterning-device. It will be ap,- preciatedthat', inthecase "of mutuallyexclusive functions in. an. automatic knittingmachine;simultaneous switching can leadito damage vto-the :machinerand/on to theproduct. It must. therefore be: ensured thatz such-9 functionscannotoccur simultaneously Thus, there exists a need' fora'newandiimproved device of: the :type described which 5 is :simplebutx yet:reliable so asrto prevent. inadvertent: activations ofimore than onemutuallytex'clusivefunctionm-any given :time.

I A SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it-isa purpose of thepresentinvention to provide a device which prevents.mutually-exclusive;

functions being simultaneously switched andi which-: holds the switchedfunctionuntil anew one is selected.

This purpose is achieved injaccordance with the pres ent invention byproviding an arrangement wherein a plurality, of selector jacks-arearranged suchithat: only: one can be moved inany given time, the othersprefera blytbeinglblocked-by a ball'type lockingdevice. Asso-" ciatedwith each selector" jacktis a'switchrjackpwhichi is movable with itsrespectivetselectorjack. The arrange? vated, operative-position whiletheselector jack is per= mitted'to move back to theoriginal, restsposition;a

suitable means being provided :for-holdingthe. switching jack in eitherof its respective positions:

In accordance with a preferred embodimentof thet invention, a pluralityof selector jacks 'arerprovided for longitudinal movement on ajack-guide,' there being tza. switch jack; associated witheachhselectorzjackt Each" said switch jack is arranged 'adjacentztoandslidablevlongitudinally with its respective selector jack. lnflthe.

original rest position of theselector :jack's; aball block? ingarrangement may be provided which includes a plu-- rality of balls,- onelocated in, a -hole vofeach selector jack; the balls being aligned"transversely ofsaid longia 6 tudinal direction and the aggregate: spacebetween the balls taken insaid transverse. direction being greater:than. the thicknesstof one selector 'jack but not greater r mentis'such' that the switchjjackrisrthen held in its activ 9 rently'holidzany one of the switch jacks in'an active position-.andconcurrently hold the remainder of the switch jacks in: the restposition;

A- practical. embodiment of the invention adaptedrfor usefor selectiveneedlebed shoggingonaflat. knitting machinetwill now. bed'escrib'ed withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION'OF THE DRAWINGS There; follows a detailed: descriptionof a= preferred embodiment of the invention: to beread -togeth'er withtheiaccompanyingzdrawings, this embodiment and the accompanying drawingsbeing provided-for purposes ofv vof FIG. 1.

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring vnow-tothe-figures, like elements are'represented lby like numeralsthroughoutlthe several'views.

' A'jack guide 1:would normally be mounted upon and fiXedito theframe-of a'flat knittingmachine. For sim-' plicity; theknitting'machineitself isnot shown in the figures: The selector jacks 2 arelongitudinallyslidable on thejack guide '1 and each has associatedtherewith a switch -jacki6 als'o longitudinally-slidable on 'the jack'guide" I. The illustrated draw cables of the selector jacks:areconnectedto theselector device and the illustrated clrawcables oftheswitching jacks are connected to the switching device of th'eknitting machine; The

jacks are held in place on (the jack guide-by suitable plates'3,4and 5,the jackguide 1 havingfonned therein a plurality of slots forreceivingthe jacks-2 and fiifor longitudinal movementtherein. Theseslotsare visible in' FIG. 5. The plates 3, 4'and 5 "also serve as stops forthejacks 2 and 6: Specifically, the plates 3 and Sf aet :as -rearward"(rightward inthe figures) stops for taken along;

means 8 which is known per se. As illustrated in FIG.

5, a ball is provided in an opening of each selector jack, the ballsbeing transversely aligned. The aggregate transverse space between theballs is such that when one selector is moved to the right to its activeposition, the balls will prevent any other selector jacks from moving tothe active position. i

Each switch jack 6 has formed on its upper surface a pair of abutments11 and 12. In a manner to be described below, these abutments cooperatewith tips 9 and on a pawl 7 which is urged resiliently downwardlyagainst the upper surface of all switch jacks 6 by means of spring 14. Ii

The switching ratchet and device of the present invention operates asfollows. Upon a given command, for example from a programme control, aselector jack such as the selecto jack 2 will be drawn to theselector byits draw cable. After it has moved to the left, the ball block 8 willprevent any other selector jack from moving to the left. The selectorjack 2' carries along with it in the longitudinal direction itsassociated switch jack 6' until one of two active positions have beenreached. In the first position the switch jack is pulled only untilabutment 12 moves to the left of tip 10, at which time the tip 10prevents rightward movement of switch jack 1. In the second positionwhich is illustrated in FIG. 3, the tip 9 on the spring loaded pawl 7will lie adjacent abutment l 1 so as to prevent movement to the right ofthe switch jack 6. Whichever of the first or second positions isselected, the switching jack adjusts an appropriate lever or abutment(not shown) via its draw cable. Before the jacks 2' and 6' were moved tothe left; the tip 10 was positioned just forward of the rear abutment 12on the jack 6' holding this switch jack in its original rest position.Now, as the selected switch jack 6' is located to the left, the tip 10still engages the abutments 12 of the remaining switch jacks so as tohold them in their original, rest position.

When the selected switch jack 6" reaches an active position and is heldthere by cooperation of either abutment l1 and pawl tip 9 or abutment 12and pawl tip 10, the selector jack 2' is free to move back to the rightto its rest position under the force of spring 13. Ifthe second activeposition has been selected, the-elements then assume the position shownin FIG. 4 wherein the selected switch jack 6-is still inthe secondactive position while the associated selector jack 2' has moved back toits rest position. I v

The elements will remain-'in'sthe active position until it is desired toselect another function; For example, if the first position of theswitch jack 6' hasbeen selected; the switch jack 6 will remain with itsabutment 12 immediately forward of and restrained by pawl tip 10 and theselector jack 2' will be in the position, illustrated in FIG. 4. Ifhowever the second position of the switching jack 6' has been selected,the element 6',as; well as 2! will remain in the position as shown inFIG. 4 until it is desired to select another function. Since theselector jack 2 is back in its original, rest position, it is availableto be selected during the nex tlfunction along with any of the otherselector jacks. Ifthe same'selector jack 2 is chosen, then this jackwillrnove to the left from the FIG. 4 position. If during this nextselection it is desired to move the same jack 6 to the said firstposition thereof, then the. selector jack 2' will move only part way. Ifthe switch jack 6 had been in this first position previously, then nofurther movement thereof will take place, and the selector jack 2' willagain move back to its rest positionflf however, the switch jack 6 hadbeen in its second, left-most position, and it is now desired to selectonly the first, partial position, then means must be provided to raisethe pawl 7 to permit the switch jack 6" to move from its position asshown in FIG. 3 back to the said partial or first position wherein theabutment 12 is restrained by the tip 10. If on the other hand the sameselector jack 2 and switch jack 6' are selected, but for carrying theswitch jack 6 to the second or left-most position, then if the switchjack 6 had been in the left-most FIG. 3 position, then the selector jack2' will simply move out to the FIG. 3 position without actuallyeffecting motion of the switch jack 6' after which it will return to itsoriginal rest position as described above. If, however, during themovement of the jacks 2 and 6' to the second or left-most position, theswitch jack 6.had been in the first or partial position, then in thiscase the selector jack 2' will simply pick up the switch jack 6' partwayalong its travel and then carry it the rest of the way to the FIG. 3position, after which the selector jack 2 will return to its originalposition, as described above.

If, however, during this subsequent selection, a selector jack otherthan 2 is chosen, then it will pull out wardly to the left itsrespective switch jack 6. This new switch jack moving to the left willraise the pawl 7 during which time the original switch jack 6 will bereleased therefrom and be urged back to its rest position under theaction of a spring (not shown). The pawl 7 will then return to itsdownward position under the force of spring 14 holding the newlyselected switch jack 6 in its active operative position by engagement ofthe appropriate tip and abutment.

Although the invention has been described in considerable. detail withrespect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent thatthe invention is capable of numerous modifications and variationsapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type for carryingout mutually exclusive functions such as for selective needle bedshogging on knitting machines, in particular on flat knitting machines,comprising: a jack guide,.a plurality of generally parallel selectorjacks mounted on said jack guide for longitudinal movement thereonindividually at least between a rest position and anv active position, aseparate switch jack associated with each selector jack and generallyparallel to its respective selector jack, each said switch jack alsohaving a rest position and at least'one active position, eachselectorjack including means for carrying its respective switch jack from therest position to an active position thereof as that selector jack movesfrom its :rest position to its active position, means for holding aswitch jack in saidactive position while permitting its respectiveselector jack to move back from its active position toitsrest position,and blocking means for permitting only one of said plurality of selectorjacks at a time to move away from said rest position thereof.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said blocking means comprisesa series of balls, each said selector jack having a hole therethroughgreater than the diameter of the balls, one ball being located in thehole of each selector jack, the balls being arranged in a linetransverse to said longitudinal direction, the aggregate space betweenthe balls taken in the said transverse direction being greater than thethickness of one selector jack but less than the thickness of twoselector jacks, such that the balls permit any one of the selector jackstion.

4. A device according to claim 3, said holding means comprising a pawlhaving a front tip and a rear tip, said to move from its rest positionto its active position tips extending transversely across saidlongitudinal direction and spring biased against all of the switchjacks, each switch jack including a front and a rear abutment engageablewith said tips, the rear tip positioned to engage the rear abutment ofany switch jacks in the rest position to hold said switch jacks in saidrest position, and each tip positioned to engage an abutment of anyswitch jack in an active position to hold that switch jack in an activeposition.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein all of said selector jacks arespring biased back to said rest position.

6. A flat knitting machine including means for selecting needles, saidmeans including a mechanical switching and ratchet device to claim 1.

1. A mechanical switching and ratchet device of the type for carryingout mutually exclusive functions such as for selective needle bedshogging on knitting machines, in particular on flat knitting machines,comprising: a jack guide, a plurality of generally parallel selectorjacks mounted on said jack guide for longitudinal movement thereonindividually at least between a rest position and an active position, aseparate switch jack associated with each selector jack and generallyparallel to its respective selector jack, each said switch jack alsohaving a rest position and at least one active position, each selectorjack including means for carrying its respective switch jack from therest position to an active position thereof as that selector jack movesfrom its rest position to its active position, means for holding aswitch jack in said active position while permitting its respectiveselector jack to move back from its active position to its restposition, and blocking means for permitting only one of said pluralityof selector jacks at a time to move away from said rest positionthereof.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said blocking meanscomprises a series of balls, each said selector jack having a holetherethrough greater than the diameter of the balls, one ball beinglocated in the hole of each selector jack, the balls being arranged in aline transverse to said longitudinal direction, the aggregate spacebetween the balls taken in the said transverse direction being greaterthan the thickness of one selector jack but less than the thickness oftwo selector jacks, such that the balls permit any one of the selectorjacks to move fRom its rest position to its active position whilepreventing any other selector jack from moving to its active position.3. A device according to claim 1, said holding means including means foreither a. holding all of said switch jacks in the rest positionsthereof, or b. holding all except one of said switch jacks in the restposition thereof and holding the said one switch jack in an activeposition.
 4. A device according to claim 3, said holding meanscomprising a pawl having a front tip and a rear tip, said tips extendingtransversely across said longitudinal direction and spring biasedagainst all of the switch jacks, each switch jack including a front anda rear abutment engageable with said tips, the rear tip positioned toengage the rear abutment of any switch jacks in the rest position tohold said switch jacks in said rest position, and each tip positioned toengage an abutment of any switch jack in an active position to hold thatswitch jack in an active position.
 5. A device according to claim 1,wherein all of said selector jacks are spring biased back to said restposition.
 6. A flat knitting machine including means for selectingneedles, said means including a mechanical switching and ratchet deviceto claim 1.